December 2018 – The Crooked Arrow Blog

The Last Stalk

Forty yards away antlers slowly rotated in my direction, the ivory tips glowing above the dark of the buck brush. Forty yards, 120 feet, 1,440 inches, give or take. I froze, diverted my eyes, tried very hard to not be there. A lifetime later the buck turned his head back to continue his gaze up the draw.

Several days earlier I had again driven the five hours to the badlands in the South of the province, and pitched my tent in the dark. My aging bones welcomed the good mattress and fluffy pillow that come with camping beside the truck.

Before first light the next morning I was sitting above a large coulee, hoping to catch deer move from feeding to bedding. All the prairie roads look the same in the dark, but thanks to iPhone and the right app I found my parking spot without trouble. The traditional in (my) traditional bowhunting stops at using a bow without sights, let-off or other gadgets. The rest is all modern. Still, the challenge is the same as 25 years ago, 100 years ago, two thousand years ago: get within shooting range undetected. Thirty yards or under, for me.

Nothing showed that morning, and I tried another area in the afternoon. Much walking and a lot of glassing revealed nary a deer, until I almost stupidly walked in full view of a bedded buck. Distance and luck kept me from spooking him, and I froze until I was sure that he hadn’t spotted me. Lying right underneath the edge of a shallow draw, with the wind in his back, approaching him would be tricky, but I decided to try just the same.

Long story short, I got to within 70-80 yards or so but decided to break off the stalk. I’d either stay out of sight but would have the wind in my back, or I would have to crawl closer through his peripheral vision. Coming back the next day seemed like a better plan.

Early the next morning I had my binoculars trained on the same area. About an hour after first light four bucks showed up, slowly working their way along the coulee’s edge. Two broke off and bedded low, but two kept getting closer. I decided to try to cut them off, but they were faster. I remember thinking that I was on a fool’s errant, with the bucks having all the advantage, my being on an open slope, and them hidden somewhere around the bend. Two steps later one of the bucks busted me, and the pair departed for healthier surroundings. I really need to start listening to my inner voices better (some of them anyway).

Back at my original look-out I saw a fifth buck approach. A nice 4×4, not too big, but with good mass. He bedded higher up in the draw, in some buck brush. It looked like he was in a position that would offer a stalk. The other bucks were bigger, but opportunity trumps size, so I concentrated on this one. Honestly I would have concentrated on him if he had been a spike. Last day of the season; I really wanted a chance to shoot a buck. Any buck.

All experts (I consider everybody who has shot a mule deer with a bow an expert) seem to suggest that you need to wait, whenever you spot a bedded buck early. He may get up and move, the winds can change, other deer may join him, and if you are off running when this happens, you’ll be in for a surprise during the stalk. I gave him a full hour. He got up once, turned around, and rebedded, now invisible from where I was. My patience spent, I got up and ran.

Half an hour later I was 200 yards from the draw. I set my pack down by a fence post, took off my boots and put on thick socks. I closed the distance as much as I dared, before starting the two-steps-glass routine: take two steps, glass the top of the brush, repeat. If you are lucky, you’ll spot the tips of the bucks antlers before he spots you.

I got lucky! Studying the antlers I figured the buck was facing away, but he was hidden by a lot of brush. I, however, was in short grass and cactus, fully exposed. In retrospect I think my next move was a mistake. Wanting to stay out of sight I decided to sit down, put the bow with an arrow nocked in my lap, and butt crawl closer. I remember noticing that this was louder than walking (see note above of learning to listen to inner voices), but I continued.

When the buck moved his head the first time, I ranged him (in defense, my range finder is fairly old – almost traditional). Forty yards. I got a little closer, and then another little bit. The wind was steady in my face, but it was only a breeze, not enough to block all sound. And then, just like that, the buck rose from his bed, and turned his head towards me. He wasn’t spooked, didn’t appear concerned, but my bow was in my lap and my hands by my side. He peered at me for a minute, or maybe two, and then slowly turned and walked away. It would have been a long shot, probably best not taken at an alert deer. I watched him disappear, and later reappear on the coulee’s edge with his two buddies in tow. Never in a hurry, as if they knew that I couldn’t bridge the gap.

Two hours later I put my bow target at 37 yards, walked back, drew and released. The arrow made a beautiful arc against the blue October sky and landed inside the ten ring.

Next year.

Circumambulate

cir·cum·am·bu·late

/ˌsərkəmˈambyəlāt/

verb

walk all the way around (something)

Every year, thousands of pilgrims of several religions circumambulate Mount Kailash in Tibet, as a holy ritual believed to bring good fortune.

We did our own version of circumambulation by circling around Yamnuska, a popular climbing, hiking and scrambling destination West of Calgary.

The rising sun catches the South face of Yamnuska

The East face of the mountain resembles a solid block

More features become visible as you keep climbing towards the East

Yamnuska North face – Once we dropped into the shadow side of the mountain, it bec

ame apparent how cold it really was

A glimpse of the West face, we needed to keep going South-West to reach the col in between Yamnuska and Old Goat Mountain

Climbing towards the col on the West side, craving to reach the sun

Finally at the col, and in the sun! We dove into the trees, out of the wind, and had some lunch (everything bagels with bacon, salami, prosciutto, spinach and Gouda cheese)

Looking North-East, along the flat face of the mountain

Coming down the giant scree field underneath the South face

Gentle trail through the aspens to conclude the circumambulation

If circumambulation appeases the spirits that live on the mountain, perhaps we have earned some good fortune today. If not, we still had a great day, and came home a little less encumbered by our daily worries.

Twelve Days of “Prairie Mountain”

Could I do it? Climb a mountain twelve days in a row? The thought came to me when I saw the ultra-runners do repeats on Prairie Mountain. I did three in one morning in the spring, but certainly wasn’t feeling up to that now. I figured it was time to do something reflecting the signature line in some of my emails (from a Dylan Thomas poem): “Do not go gentle into that good night – Rage, rage against the dying of the light”. Just because; an ego-booster mostly, I think.

The original plan was to climb Prairie Mountain (2189m/7182ft), located West of Bragg Creek AB, once a day, for twelve days, leading up to Christmas. I started on a Sunday morning. On Monday morning, one of our vehicles had to be in the shop, and I found myself without wheels. End of plan, before it even started.

Luckily I have a hill behind my house that I can access. The climb up Prairie Mountain is 3.5km/2.2miles, and covers 700m/2297ft, give or take a few feet or meters, depending on the source. I mapped out a 100m/328ft climb on the hill stretching over just about half a kilometer. Go up and down 7 times and I’d have the same distance as the climb up and descent from PM. This would also save me the 90 min of driving required to get to PM and back. Not quite the same, but close enough.

Here are the notes I jot down every day after the “run”.

Day 1: Prairie Mountain

Weight: 61.2 kg / 134.8 lbs
Podcast: None
Average pace (uphill only): 15min 10 sec per km (24.2 min/mile)

Ran up Prairie Mountain in 53 minutes, forgot to record the descent. Pretty good time, about nine minutes longer than my personal best, but I was fitter then. Trail was icy, which probably will be the case every time. I wore hiking boots and crampons, hardly speed-record attire. The trail seems to attract more and more people that do repeats, climbing it several times in a row. There are a lot of fit people out there. I try to look the part whenever I see one coming, giving a knowing nod: “You and me, bud (or girl), we’re the fast ones on this hill, #ultrarunning”, only to get back to gasping for air once they have passed.

Day 2: Big Hill

Weight: 61.0 kg / 134.4 lbs
Podcast: Meateater Ep. 146: Bigfoot
Average pace: 11min 41sec per km (18.7 min/mile)

Felt good, legs a tad sore. Clearly I’m no speed demon. Going up this hill seven times is a bit boring, especially since I know it so well. No surprises, just grind. I jogged the downhills, need to be careful not to aggravate the back. The dog is getting slightly confused by all the back-and-forth.

Day 3: Big Hill

Weight: 61.0 kg / 134.4 lbs
Podcast: The Hunting Collective Ep. 39: Dusan Smetana
Average pace: 11min 30sec (18.4 min/mile)

Thank goodness for podcasts. Ben O’Brian of The Hunting Collective was talking to a former Czechoslovakian photographer who trains homing pigeons (and has a small farm with sheep, chickens, pigs, etc. with a taste for slivovitz and Argentinian asado). Leg 6 and 7 were starting to feel like work.

Day 4: Big Hill

Weight: 60.8 kg / 132.9 lbs
Podcast: Humans of Ultrarunning Ep. 1: Courtney Dauwalter
Average pace: 11min 47sec per km (18.9 min/mile)

I needed to go early today, so it would have less impact on the workday; still dark when I started. Legs were sore, so was the brain. Coutney Dauwalter is a beast, I am not. Or if we are both beasts, she is a wolverine, running high and low and never slowing down, and I am more of a lumbering bear past his prime, looking for a place to take a nap. If you don’t get the wolverine reference, you need to read Douglas Chadwick’s book “The Wolverine Way” and marvel about the relentless energy of this animal that inhabits the remote mountain ranges of the Rockies. Eleven deer on the hill. Managed to end strong, but it took a while to get the kinks out of the muscles; one third of the way there.

Day 5: Prairie Mountain

Weight: 60.8 kg / 132.9 lbs
Podcast: The Stickbow Chronicles Oct 14: Bowhunting Moose with Traditional Archery Gear Part 1
Average pace: 12min 46sec per km (20.4 min/mile)

The real thing today! Started work at 7am so I could leave early, and make the top of Prairie Mountain shortly after sundown. There were only five people on the mountain, including me. The first two (hikers) I overtook on the uphill, so I looked good, and the other two (real runners) I met on the way down, so it was easy to play the part. Although if I really want to look like a runner, I will have to ditch the hunting pants.

Three minutes faster to the top than on Day 1! Must be the difference between wearing heavy hiking boots with spikes and wearing runners. Ran out of steam near the top. Had to lean left into the wind in order to maintain a straight line. Gusts up to 130km/h the weather people said.

The folks of the Stickbow Chronicles Podcast had Monty Browning on. Monty is a character who has been hunting Alaska for moose with traditional archery gear for years, successfully too. I love it when they find the oldtimers that have quietly been doing for decades what I am now trying to achieve. It teaches me to be humble and not brag too much about a few good shots at a target. Monty wrote a book about his exploits, available here: http://www.montybrowningbook.com/book. I haven’t read it, but if it is anything like the podcast it should be a good read.

I feel like the girl from the movie “Julie and Julia”. Is anybody actually reading this?

Day 6: Big Hill

Weight: 60.8 kg / 132.9 lbs
Podcast: TradQuest Ep. 21: Dick Robertson
Average pace: 10min 44sec per km (17.2 min/mile)

Dragging my butt out to the hill was not easy this morning. I decided to not look at my watch for at least half the distance, thinking I’d be slow. Surprise, surprise, kilometer 4 went in 10min 44sec, which also turned out to be average pace for the morning; fastest so far. I had expected a slow-down by now. Back to the real Prairie Mountain tomorrow.

My Fitbit claims I climbed 746m/2447ft, which I feel is overestimating it. Maybe I need a fancier watch, Santa? I like this one: https://www.coros.com/pace.php

On the earbuds today were the guys from the TradQuest podcast, interviewing Dick Robertson of Robertson Stykbow (www.robertsonstykbow.com). Another one of these guys that you won’t see chest pounding on IG, yet has taken several Dall sheep with his traditional bow. Dall sheep! Several! Wow.

Day 7: Prairie Mountain

Weight: 60.4 kg / 133.0 lbs
Podcast: Joe Rogan Experience Ep. 1212 David Goggins
Average pace: 13min 2sec per km (20.8 min/mile)

Saturday! Time to do the real thing! I opted for late afternoon, to give the crowds a chance to dissipate. The first two kilometers went OK, the last 1.5km of the climbs felt like I had ran the tank empty. Still bested my Day 1 time by about a minute.

Some agony in the left knee, medial front, likely the result of too enthusiastic downhills, so took my time coming off the mountain. Tomorrow morning will be interesting, I expect a slow one.

Podcast of the day (in the truck, I don’t like tunes in my ear when I am on a trail): Joe Rogan interviewing David Goggins. Goggins has done some unbelievable things, athletically, which he does, he says, to strengthen his mind. I’m not doing it justice, so listen to the podcast if you want, or look at his book (“Can’t hurt me: Master your Mind and Defy the Odds”), also available as an audio book, read out by someone else, with per-chapter comments by Goggins.

Honestly, I find it very hard to listen to Goggins. I’ll say no more, whatever he does works for him in a big way.

Day 8: Prairie Mountain

Weight: 60.6 kg / 133.5 lbs
Podcast: Fred Bear’s Field Notes Oct 28 and Nov 11: Yukon Northwest Territory Part 1 & 2
Average pace: 12min 53sec per km (20.6 min/mile)

Tried to be smart about things (not an easy accomplishment) and started out just a hair slower. Still managed to be only 2 min slower than yesterday!

Eventful run. One of the six people that were on the mountain before me to see the sunrise failed to take the time for an outhouse break before heading up. He or she figured that 100 feet off the trail was good enough. My dog found the fresh ‘droppings’ adorned with TP. Yeah that happened. First I rubbed him down with handfuls of pine needles, to get most of the solids out, and later tried to clean him up a bit more with snow. The river was a welcome sight, and I managed to get him presentable enough to ride in the truck.

Halfway down a misstep and a fall; cut a flap of skin (little flap) off my hand, causing a decent bleed, so some field emergency patching was in order (the other people on the trail might have gotten a bit screamish seeing me come jog down with hand dripping with blood and dog stinking up a storm.

Bear Archery has started a podcast where a fellow reads out chapters from Fred Bear’s book “Field Notes”, which are the daily thoughts Fred put to paper during his many hunts in Africa, Yukon, NWT, BC, etc. Fairly dry, but, to me anyway, interesting. To have so much time (and resources) to travel and hunt; unthinkable these days, for most of us.

Day 8 in the books, 2/3s of the way there. Happy that I am still managing a fair pace. Going to try to fit the real mountain in two more times, and two more on the hill behind the house.

Day 9: Big Hill

Weight: 60.4 kg / 133.0 lbs
Podcast: Randy Newberg’s Hunt Talk Radio Ep. 95 Henry Mountain Free Range Bison Hunting
Average pace: 12min 25sec per km (19.9 min/mile)

Pre-dawn start today, as the workday is full and will go past dinner. Legs had no go today; couldn’t push uphill, and couldn’t trust myself to jog on the downhill. Hopefully I will recover a bit before going back to the mountain tomorrow.

Randy Newberg chattered in my ears, along with a bunch of merry men. They recorded the podcast on the tail end of their archery bison hunt in Utah’s Henry Mountains. A day-by-day of this hunt is available on his Youtube channel. In the podcast they talk about bison, how they were rescued from extinction at the very last moment, and the fight it took to create Yellowstone NP and enable enforcement of the park status. This story is featured in the book “Last Stand”, detailing the life of George Bird Grinnell. Go read it, it is a good one.

Day 10: Prairie Mountain

Weight: 60.6 kg / 133.4 lbs
Podcast: Ginger Runner LIVE: Ep. 198 Sally McRae: The comeback at Tarawera 100
Average pace: 12min 1sec per km (19.2 min/mile)

So stoked about today’s run! Managed to stay a hair under 50 minutes. After yesterday’s crawl on the Big Hill, I couldn’t be happier. The fastest time yet up the real mountain of this 12-day endeavour. Not bad for Day 10.

Ethan Newberry and his wife Kim run the Ginger Runner LIVE podcast (you can also watch them weekly on Youtube). Sally McRae (@yellowrunner on IG) was their guest, after she won the Tarawera 100. Sally is such a positive person, it almost hurts. Impossible to stay grumpy, listening to her talk.

Two more days, one boring hill-repeat session tomorrow, finishing Thursday afternoon. Hope the weather holds, today the winds were howling on the ridge.

Day 11: Big Hill

Weight: ? kg / ? lbs
Podcast: Kifarucast Ep 76: Hunting Partners with David Hoff
Average pace: 10min 33sec per km (16.9 min/mile)

Started with some anxiety, feeling a bit worn after yesterday’s fast climb, but with the first three kilometers sub-11 min/km I got a bit more excited, and ended with the fastest time on the hill to date! I have to say, this is not at all going as I expected (much better!). Off to the real mountain tomorrow, for a final hike, accompanied by my daughter, who came home for Christmas. May even take a selfie!

On the podcast today, Aron Snyder and Frank ‘the Tank’ Peralta from Kifarucast. Aron doesn’t need much of an introduction. “I was shivering like a cat shitting razor blades”, is just one of the colourful expressions that lace Aron’s vocabulary. But more than an entertaining choice of words, Aron has transformed into a fantastic recurve hunter, in a relatively short period of time. Lots of practice and good coaching pays off apparently; go figure. Today they were talking with David Hoff, ultrarunner and longbow hunter. Best of both worlds! Don’t listen if you cannot stomach strong language.

One more day! One more climb!

Day 12: Prairie Mountain

Weight: 61.2 kg / 134.8 lbs
Podcast: none – chatting with my daughter
Average pace: did not record

Last day. Big winds right out of the truck, and it didn’t let up much as light faded. Flurries coming in from the West, and clouds muting the rising moon in the East. We hiked out in the dark.

As often the case, after a challenge is completed, it doesn’t feel like all that important anymore. Twelve days of “Prairie Mountain”; six times a surrogate, six times the real thing. It is done.